Need help looking for a job? Tired of hearing silence when you apply on-line? RightChanges Job Search Coach offers tips on how to find a job in this market and how to stand out from your competition. These tips apply whether you are unemployed, misemployed, new graduate, or re-entering the job market.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

You are looking for a job. It is hard; finding a job is
hard. The job market is tough. You have worked hard at it. You have applied to
what seems like thousands of jobs and not landed one yet. If you are a Boomer, you
wonder if it is your age. If you are a recent graduate, you wonder if it is your
lack of experience – but then how do you get experience without a job? You
start to doubt yourself and wonder if it is you.

It is hard! But think about what
Einstein said “Insanity is doing the same thing over and
over again and expecting different results.”

Now
that you agree that what you have been doing isn’t working, what will you do differently
TODAY?

Many job seekers don’t even know where to start to get objective
and professional feedback on their marketing materials, their job search
approach, or their interpersonal skills (which makes up 50% of what companies are
looking for).

Here are some questions to ask and articles that will help you
but only if you implement the changes NOW:

If you have “references available upon request”
on your resume, if you start out with an objective statement that says what YOU
want, or if you updated your resume without looking at what companies are
looking for, and if your bullets are job description then you need help.

Help

Business Cards: http://www.rightchangesjobsearchcoach.blogspot.com/2011/08/job-seekers-do-you-have-all-of-right.html

It only costs $25 to get an initial hour with a professional
job search coach who can review your marketing materials and assess your job
search approach to date, share a lot of information that can get you moving
forward with more success. Go to our web site and complete the Contact Us Form.
Is that insane? No – staying stuck is.

Monday, November 3, 2014

If you are searching for a new job, either because you are
without one or because you are one of the 73+% of people who are disengaged in
their current jobs, then you need to have a list of five to ten target
companies you strongly want to work for.

Many job seekers have been told they need target companies
but may not have been told what to do with them. This very comprehensive article
will explain the purpose of a target company list as well as how to use it.

Why Target Specific Companies

Let us dispel a common misconception up front. By having a
target company list does not mean you would not take a job with another
company. If the job comes along, of course consider it.

There are two statistics that too many job seekers do not
know about that impact their chances of success. First, job seekers have a 50
times great chance of landing a job with an employee connection. Second, the
majority of jobs (up to 85%) are NOT posted on-line; this is referred to as the
“hidden job market”. Therefore, job seekers need to get out and seek
opportunities. If you have to work to get a job, it might as well be for the
5-10 companies that are your “oh my gosh, I’d love to work for…” companies or
as one client calls them “OMG’s”. Once
you see below what it takes to “work” these companies, you will understand why
there should not be more than ten companies on your list.

How to Identify Your Target Companies

Each job seeker looks for different things in the companies
they want to work for. Some people want a reasonable commute. Some people favor
a company with a great reputation. Other people choose small companies, while others
prefer large companies.

Larger metropolitan areas have a business paper that
publishes an annual Book of Lists. (You can conduct an internet search to see
if your area has one). It is a great resource for getting lists of fabulous companies
in your region you may not even know about.

How to Work Your Target Company List

One way you will use your target company list is to see who
you know, or who you know who knows, someone that works there. You will also
use the list to see what groups and associations that people who work in your
target companies belong to and attend. The goal is to come alongside and meet employees
of your target companies so they get to know, like, then trust you and help you
get into the company.

Finding People

Using LinkedIn, search people who work for that company. In
the drop box to the left of the Search field at the top of the LinkedIn screen,
select the People option and then click the Advanced option on the right of the
Search box without entering anything into the field.

In the subsequent search criteria fields, enter the company
name in the Company field and select the Current option under the Company field.

In the Postal Code field, enter your local postal code (also
known as zip code), in the Within box select a distance that will include your target
area, then click the Search button.

The resulting list are people you (1st level
connections) or someone you know knows (2nd level connections) or
people in groups you belong to.

For second level
connections, click the name of the contact and on the right side of their
profile you will see in the section titled How You're Connected the person in your network who is the connection
to that person. If you know the intermediate contact well, you can request an
introduction to the person in your target company whether using the LinkedIn
Get Introduction option or via e-mail.

Finding Groups

Whether you know the person or not, and whether or not you
get an introduction, you can use LinkedIn to find a way to “come alongside of
them” in person at association meetings (this is the best method) or in
LinkedIn groups.

For the 1st and 2nd level people who
work at your target companies and are in your field or one related to it, look
at the Groups section in their individual profiles.Make note of the Groups they belong to.

A rule of thumb for knowing if a LinkedIn group is just a
LinkedIn group or if it has “in person” meetings as well is the group’s name.
If there is a city or state mentioned in the group’s name then the group may
have an “in person” component as well. Let me give an example. Say you are in
the field of Human Resources. If someone belongs to SHRM-Atlanta (Society for Human
Resource Management) , then it is very likely there are local meetings in
Atlanta where you can meet people from your target companies.

Once you find groups that your target company contacts
belong to, join and participate in both the LinkedIn and in-person groups.

Participating in Groups – LinkedIn

There are multiple purposes for participating in LinkedIn
groups. Participating in LinkedIn groups can grow your knowledge of your
industry, increase your visibility, and expand your network, all which increase
your chances of landing a job you want.

Many people prefer to ease into participating in LinkedIn
groups. The first step is to read the articles and discussions being posted by
others in these groups and if you enjoy the information, “Like” the discussion.
By liking the discussion, the person who posted the discussion will receive an
e-mail with your name saying you liked their discussion.

The next step is to comment on a discussion. Understand that
these comments should be well written; what you write reflects on you. Again an
e-mail will be sent to the person who posted the discussion, as well as those
who commented on the discussion before you, with your name along with your
comments.

The ultimate step is to post your own discussion. You do not
have to write your own original content; you can post a link to an article
relevant to the group that someone else wrote (always give credit to the
source) and invite comments. This can establish you as a subject matter expert.

Being active on LinkedIn will increase interest in you which
you will see in the increased number of those who have viewed your profile.

Participating in Groups – In Person

Remember that people have a 50 times greater chance of
landing a job with an employee connection. But most people will only help the
job seeker if they know them. One of the best ways to get to know people is
networking in person. The most productive networking is targeted networking which
is going to the industry networking groups that people in your target companies
frequent.

It is not considered networking if you just attend events;
you must participate at these events. It is also not networking if it is only
about you.

There are some good books that teach how to network and a “must
read” in conjunction with any other resource is about Netweaving (Bob Littel).
The point of Netweaving is to put others needs before your own, to help others
before they help you, and to not take from others more than you give. Do not go
to networking meeting just to see who can help you – that is not networking.

What Else to do With Target Companies

There are other ways a job seeker can use the list of 5 -10
companies they would really like to work for.

Follow your target companies on LinkedIn, Facebook,
and Twitter. Companies are posting important news and information (even jobs)
on social media. You want to know that information in a timely fashion.

Your network of family, friends, and others want
to help you in your job search. You may have told them what you want – the
truth is that memory does not get better with age. Instead of asking them to
remember what you are looking for, give them a Marketing Plan or what coach
Judi Adams renamed the Networking Guide because it more clearly communicates
the purpose for it – it is a guide for your network. For more information on
the Networking Guide go to RightChangesJobSearchCoach.blogspot.com.

Set Google Alerts on your target companies.
Companies usually only publish information that creates a positive spin on what
they are doing. Google can find much more on the internet about your target
companies than what the company wants you to find. You could repeatedly Google
the companies but it makes more sense to put Google to work. Set a Google Alert for each of your target
companies so you can see what Google find when it finds it. To set a Google
Alert, Google the term “Google Alert” and follow the prompts. Google will send
you an e-mail with the subject line of “Google Alert” and the criteria you set.
Then read the e-mails so you are on top of breaking information.

If you are searching for a job, leverage the power of a
target company list to increase your chances of success.

Other Tips

In this competitive market, every little trick helps. RightChangesJobSearchCoach.blogspot.com will give a tip for job seekers each week.
Name Badge
Use an experienced salesperson’s tip. Wear your name tag on the right so your name is in the line of sight of the people you shake hands with, making it easier for them to remember your name.

Body LanguageExcuse me - What did your body language say again? Over 80% of communication is non verbal. It is essential for you to know how to read your contact’s and interviewer’s body language so you can judge the effect of what you are saying verbally. It is also essential for you to control your own body language. The following are some brief tips.

1) Leaning forward shows interest.
2) Eye contact establishes trust with the other person.
3) Do not cross anything (arms, legs, etc.). Crossing indicates you are closed to or guarding against the person or what is being said.
4) Keep your hands within sight to show you are not hiding anything. Did you know that shaking hands started as a way to show you are not carrying a weapon?

Read more on body language and see if you may be saying one thing and your body another. The library, the web, and discount bookstores have a lot on this topic.

Do Something for Yourself

You are looking for a job so money is tight or you are budgeting more closely than ever before. This tip may seem counterintuitive but it is worth every penny. The tip: Do something for yourself that would make you proud! Whether it is to lose weight, take classes, splurge on a new interview suit or jacket, get a new hair cut or color the grey, or get new more contemporary glasses, just do it! Your self confidence level will increase. You may even meet a great networking connection that way.

This does not need to cost a lot. There are less expensive, money saving options too.

Classes: The state has programs that will cover the cost of training. Some colleges let people audit classes for free and there are links for free on-line courses. Libraries and other organizations offer seminars. During an interview, when you are asked what you have been doing since you were laid off, they will see that you have continued to develop yourself and expand your interests.

Instead of the gym: If you want to lose weight but cannot afford a gym membership, then walk the mall 1 hour non-stop several times a week. You don’t have to be an early riser either; you can find mall walkers at all hours. Check with your favorite malls. In some malls, the anchor stores close later than the other stores, so you can walk the mall without the crowds.

Eyeglasses: Several eye glass stores have "two for one" specials. Go in halves with someone on the cost.

New Interview Suit or jacket: Now is the time to shop. The stores are already marking down clothes for the new season. Watch the paper for additional discounts and coupons. Go on the web and see if the store has on-line coupons available there. You would be amazed at the savings.

You don't need to spend a lot but do something just for you that you are proud of and enjoy it!

Read Who Moved My Chesse and the Prayer of JabezCheese and Jabez: Change is hard and being on the job market is one of the most stressful changes in a person’s life. RightChanges asks every client to (re)read Who Moved My Cheese. It can be read in less than one hour and has a great message on accepting change.

Another recommended book is the Prayer of Jabez. It is based on a single verse in the Bible and reminds us that God has a storehouse of blessings for us; we just have to ask. Check these out at your local library.